PITTSBURGH — Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Sunday will watch his former team in person for the first time since he resigned from his position in January.

Tomlin will be at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium with the NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” crew for the game between the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

“I look forward to it because of the relationships I have with many of the players,” Tomlin said Wednesday on a conference call promoting NBC’s broadcast. “But you know me, I’m able to compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand.”

Despite his presence as an analyst on NBC, Tomlin has kept a low profile locally since he stepped down as coach on Jan. 13. Wednesday afternoon was the first time Pittsburgh reporters were able to interview him since his resignation.

In April, he told NBC that he thought the timing in his life was right for something new. Tomlin also said then that he felt like the Steelers organization needed a change, citing the team’s lack of success in the playoffs over the past decade.

So, will Tomlin remain in TV or get back on an NFL sideline soon?

On the NBC conference call, Tomlin said he hasn’t given “one iota” of thought to coaching in the future but acknowledged he will be approached by teams.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” Tomlin said.

Many Steelers players have not spoken to Tomlin since he addressed the team a day after the playoff loss to Houston and told the players he was resigning.

Inside linebacker Patrick Queen, who was recruited by Tomlin in free agency in 2024 and played for him for two seasons here in Pittsburgh, is one of them.

“If I see him, I’m going to go talk to him,” Queen said. “But I’m going to let him do his own thing and I’m going to do my own thing. I’m going to try to not make it bigger than it is. I definitely miss him. He’s a great coach. But at the end of the day, he has a job to do, and I have a job to do.”

Queen has watched Tomlin on “Sunday Night Football” and joked about how familiar it is.

“He literally says the same things he said in meetings to us,” Queen said with a smile. “The guy knows ball. It’s cool to see him being the same person he was in here on TV.”

Tomlin has maintained communication with Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. Heyward played for Tomlin for 15 seasons and Watt for nine seasons.

On Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast this week, Tomlin revealed how he continues to motivate his two former All-Pros.

“Sometimes, you start a fire to put it out,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin said his motivational tactics are his way of keeping a fire lit under Heyward and Watt.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people in their lives are telling them how great they are, and I enjoy being that guy for them,” Tomlin said.

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